New coyote hunting season remains open through Feb. 28

The Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters that Delaware's first coyote hunting season remains open through the end of February.

Staff Reports

The Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding hunters that Delaware's first coyote hunting season remains open through the end of February.

The division received its first report of a coyote harvested during the newly established hunting season, a male coyote taken in the Hockessin area by a deer hunter on Jan. 23. All coyotes harvested by hunting or trapping must be reported to the division within one business day of harvest to provide data on coyote abundance and distribution that will help further guide the division’s scientific management of the coyote population.

Summary of coyote hunting regulations include: Season open Sept. 1 through last day of February; a hunting license is required to hunt coyotes; coyotes can only be harvested with the following firearms: shotgun, rimfire or centerfire rifle up to .25 caliber, muzzle-loading rifle, longbow and crossbow; during deer firearms seasons, only firearms legal for deer hunting can be used; coyote hunting is not allowed on Sundays based on established prohibitions on Sunday hunting; coyote hunting is not allowed at night between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, similar to established restrictions prohibiting night hunting of other wildlife species; harvested coyotes must be reported to the division within one business day of their take by calling (302) 735-3600.